so let it be what it'll be
[15:10] * Sumner has, when Martha opens her door, an armful of groceries, a bottle of wine, and the distinct aroma of cigarette smoke (although he's not smoking right now). He cleans up well, at least.
[15:14] * Martha is dressed fairly nicely, but...she's usually cleaned-up, isn't she? Her place reflects that -- it's very well-decorated without being stodgy, lots of bright colors. She beams at Mack and ushers him inside. "Hello! What have you got there?"
[15:19] Sumner: "What will sooner or later be dinner." He finds her kitchen, and sets his groceries (also wine) down.
[15:25] * Martha sits on the counter, because she's like that, and examines the label on the bottle of wine. "How have you been?"
[15:26] * Sumner unpacks things, and then leans against his hands on the counter next to her for a second. "I've been. What about you?"
[15:27] * Martha shrugs, looking him over speculatively. "I'm all right, but I tend to avoid a lot of the nonsense, these days. Absolutely no aliens in my life."
[15:28] Sumner: "Nonsense." He laughs, quietly. "Can't say I have many aliens around these days, but nonsense I got plenty of."
[15:29] Martha: "Oh?" She sets the wine bottle down.
[15:29] * Sumner gestures vaguely. "Can't turn around for someone wanting to screw with these people I collected."
[15:34] Martha: "...what happened?" Martha, stoppit, you aren't a Companion any more.
[15:35] Sumner: "Nothing that's gonna make for good dinner conversation." Yeah, you won't get much more than that without prodding. He's checking her cupboards for what she's already got, although he was sure to get everything he /needs/.
[15:36] * Martha is stocked only with the basis, pretty much, she's...not terribly big on home-made cooking. "Fair enough."
[15:41] Sumner: "Not much of a cook?" He is just gonna go ahead and commandeer your kitchen, hi.
[15:41] Martha: "I don't have time! Medical school, keeping my family from killing one another..." The occasional interplanetary trip... Martha shrugs, and smiles. "So this is a welcome change."
[15:46] Sumner: "Something I like to be." He sheds his jacket and rolls up his sleeves -- Mack, honey, if you're going to get all cleaned up, don't...oh, hell with it. You have nice arms, at least.
[15:48] * Martha may be noticing that. "You're getting a ten out of ten so far." It's been two minutes, but hey. She knows him decently well, at this point, and doesn't think this will go badly at all.
[15:51] * Sumner busies himself with chopping shit and other important cooking things. "I do score well." ...Mack.
[15:52] * Martha laaaughs. "Cheeky."
[15:53] * Sumner grins at her.
[15:54] * Martha smiles at him, insouciant, and slides down to stand next to him. "Anything I can do?" With the dinner, mind.
[15:55] * Sumner bumps her with his hip. "You can open the wine."
[15:58] * Martha will do this, then! "I'm a helper." :3
[15:58] Sumner: "I picked that up."
[15:59] * Martha leans against the countertop. "Oh really? Where?"
[16:00] Sumner: "It was that or you like looking at middle aged men with their shirts off. Guess I could always interpret it like that."
[16:00] * Sumner ...is talking about when he arrived.
[16:02] Martha: "You could!" She's so agreeable!
[16:03] Sumner: "Next you're gonna want to see the tattoos."
[16:03] Martha: "You have /tattoos/?" That's a yes.
[16:03] Sumner: "Yeah, a couple."
[16:04] * Martha grins. "Me, too. Just the one, though...which you might have seen?" It's on her arm, not exactly hidden.
[16:05] * Sumner thinks about it. "Don't think I have, actually."
[16:06] * Martha slides off her cardigan and shows him! :D
[16:07] * Sumner examines it. "Pretty women always gotta have pretty things."
[16:11] Martha: "Although the definition of pretty is awfully subjective!" She's pleased he likes it, and it shows.
[16:11] Sumner: "Mine're on my hips. Bit low to be entirely decent."
[16:12] * Martha raises her eyebrows. ...that did not dissuade her interest, Mack. "Really. I'll have a look after you've had some wine and won't blush." >:3
[16:12] * Sumner laughs, quietly.
[16:13] * Martha smiles up at him, cheerfully, and goes to sit on one of the tall wooden stools near the counters.
[16:13] * Sumner cooks! Like one does. With cooking, and stuff.
[16:14] * Martha watches! And provides helpful commentary, such as: "Wow, I didn't know those were often used outside of magazines!" She's talky.
[16:17] * Sumner chats back. Mostly along the lines of 'they are if you know shit about what you're doing' and 'pass me that'.
[16:17] * Martha also pours them both lots of wine.
[16:18] * Sumner is happy to drink wine as he cooks, until he's DONE cooking, and serves up dinner.
[16:25] * Martha sits down to eat.
[16:26] * Sumner has made, pretty much, chicken and vegetables. It does not look all that impressive. It is, however, totally delicious.
[16:30] Martha: "I have to say, I'm glad we didn't go out. This is much better." :D
[16:30] Sumner: "I try." He grins at her.
[16:37] * Martha eats very politely! She is kind of an upper-crust type, more upper-middle-class than /rich/, but it still shows.
[16:38] * Sumner is...not upper crust; his family HAD money, but that was a long time ago. He's tidy, though.
[17:18] Martha: "Now, am I going to learn to cook from you, at some point?"
[17:19] Sumner: "Ain't the most patient of teachers, but if you're willing to learn, I don't see why not."
[17:20] * Martha raises her eyebrows. "Oh, really? Why so impatient?"
[17:22] Sumner: "'Cause the things worth doin' slow work better if you know what you're doing." Casual sip of wine.
[17:33] * Martha says, sunnily, "Agreed. Although there's something to be said for jumping headfirst into things." :3
[17:33] Sumner: "Yeah, but I figure I should let you finish eating." :3
[17:34] * Martha laughs. "You're terrible."
[17:34] Sumner: "Unashamedly."
[17:40] Martha: "I'll figure out some punishment later." She sips her wine and smiles into the glass.
[17:42] Sumner: "I hope I'm not gonna have to grovel." Nom nom nom chikkon.
[17:42] Martha: "Don't hope too hard, I'm intrigued by the prospect."
[17:43] Sumner: "Not as entertaining as it sounds. Cocked up a bit recently, had to all but get on my knees."
[17:44] * Martha tilts her head. "What happened?"
[17:45] Sumner: "Stuck my nose where it didn't belong and screwed something up for a...well, she ain't my friend, more like family that wishes I'd take a hike."
[18:05] * Martha considers him. "And she's okay with it now?"
[18:06] * Sumner drinks his wine, thinking about it. "She's not going to dropkick me."
[18:07] Martha: "Lucky you."
[18:08] Sumner: "More'n I deserve." He's looking at YOU, Martha.
[18:31] * Martha blinks at him. "Really."
[18:32] * Sumner glances away from the momentary intensity and shrugs, a little awkward. He can be 'appealingly dorky' under the right circumstance.
[18:36] * Martha smiles down at her plate. "I'm not sure I agree."
[18:36] Sumner: "Well, you'll get to know me better." He offers her a crooked grin.
[18:54] * Martha says, lightly, "Yes. I will."
[18:54] * Sumner has finished his meal. He will pour more wine.
[18:55] * Martha is in favor of more wine, yes, sir. "This is good, by the way. I didn't know they had anything decent in the area."
[18:55] * Sumner shrugs. "Picked all this up before I hit London."
[18:56] * Martha sighs. "Foiled again."
[18:56] * Sumner leans back in his seat a bit. "Aw."
[18:59] Martha: "You can make it up to me later." :D
[18:59] Sumner: "Can I, now. On that note, I think you wanted to see something." :D
[19:00] * Martha grins at him. "I did." ...Mack is totally going to hit it, FYI.
[19:00] * Sumner pretty much is, yeah. He gets to his feet, putting the glass down.
[19:03] * Martha beckons him. C'mere, you.
[19:04] * Sumner plants himself next to her chair, and -- as casually as is possible -- unbuttons his pants, letting them down far enough to see his tattoos. And also that, while he is not actually flashing her, he should probably invest in some underwear sometime.
[19:06] * Martha perhaaaps reaches out to...Martha, no, tattoos are not for touching. Or are they? "I think I need a closer look." ...hi, she's fairly sexually aggressive. "But maybe not in here."
[19:07] * Sumner feels that Martha can pretty much touch anything on him any time she likes. Unless he's driving. He buttons his pants again, 'cause...otherwise it makes walking awkward. (*snigger*) "Far be it from me to deny a lady anything she wants." :3
[19:10] * Martha will probably do that sometime you're driving, Sumner, she's...like that. For as friendly lady-next-door as she can seem. "Do you want any more wine?"
[19:12] Sumner: "Think I'm good, on that front."
[19:13] * Martha smiles, and gets up. "Me, too." She starts walking into another room! :O
[19:13] * Sumner will follow after her...hello, Martha, your hips are for Mack's big man hands.
[19:14] * Martha is going into her bedroom, so isn't that awesome timing. She has pretty awesome hips, thxu. "Close the door." >_>
[19:15] * Sumner will kick it shut with his foot, hi, totally not interested in anything but Martha.